NO 93 SQUADRON - Form 540 September 1952

F540 Operations Record Book September 1952 NO 93 SQUADRON. PRO Kew No. AIR27 Piece 2636 Microfilm Row 1 Draws 52-71 from Duncan Curtis
PLACE	DATE	TIME	SUMMARY OF EVENTS COMPILING OFFICER Sqn. Ldr. S. M. McGREGOR.	REF. TO APPENDICES

JEVER	1952 September 1st		OPERATIONS The month began with 93 Squadron on 'Battle Flight'. Four aircraft is now the standard number required. The weather was fair and allowed Practice Interceptions to be flown in the area. Fg. Off. HARDCASTLE went off in the Tiger Moth on a long trip to FLORENNES with Lt. MONTAGNAN as passenger. Sgt. WEBSTER left JEVER for the U.K. in one of 4 Squadron's aircraft, which he is to bring back to JEVER after recrystallisation.
	2nd		'Battle Flight' again in unsettled weather which cleared up rapidly during the day. Air tests were the only other type of mission flown. Sgt. WEBSTER returned with 4 Squadron's aircraft and Fg.Off. HARDCASTLE returned in the Tiger Moth. A slight lull was beginning in readiness for the anticipated move to BUCKEBURG which was scheduled for the 11th - 14th, all parties included. The Hangar Equipment was cleaned up and sorted and checked as part of the preparations.
	3rd		'Battle Flight' continued in deteriorating weather, but main emphasis was on the move and doing whatever was possible until such time as movement orders became available. Sgt. GARRATT returned from leave in the U.K. 'Battle Flight' P.I.'s are now done in our own area since the radar at Bad Zwischenhahn is now serviceable. Although very good at vectors its heights are a source of trouble and several of the flights done had to be calibration checks for the Ground Control with no target or interceptions.
	4th		'Battle Flight' flew four sorties throughout the day. The afternoon proved more interesting than the morning with Meteors, a York and F.84's (not sighted). Most of the interceptions proved to be line astern chases, which probably were due to the operators on the Control being under training. In the evening a night flying programme was arranged but after four sorties it had to be cancelled owing to a bad storm which gradually engulfed the airfield. By this time the weather had become very unstable and promised not too well for the morrow.
	5th		112 Squadron stood in on 'Battle Flight' for 93 so that we could go rocketing. At first mist obscured the range but by 10.30 a programme commenced which went on all day. 34 sorties were flown and 126 rockets fired - there were 6 hang-ups and one new pilot failed to fire owing to incorrect cockpit drills. Scores were increasingly better as a day like this gives a very good chance of practicing - each pilot had three or four sorties in the same day which is infinitely better than one every few weeks.
	6th		Although a long week-end there was considerable bustle on the station. A fete in aid of S.S.A.F.A. was held on the airfield in front of Air Servicing Flight Hangar. The weather was not too kind since it gave frequent showers with bright intervals. On the whole it was a success with receipts up to what had been anticipated. 93 Squadron ran a Hot Dog stall, whose stock had to be replenished, so brisk was trade during the showers. In the same tent a treasure hunt was run which served to be lucrative.
	7th		Sunday.
	8th		The morning was fine with cu. over the airfield and cirrus to the north and west. sorties of cine-, formation aerobatics and I.F. were flown. In the afternoon the whole Wing was engaged in a snake climb and descent. 24 aircraft flew and on the whole it was successful. A few points came out such as starting heights for the descent and interval between squadron descents, etc. These were cleared up - but the fact remained that 24 aircraft are very unlikely to be under the control of one leader. The little cloud encountered served to make the practice more realistic. The whole thing was in preparation for Exercise "HOLDFAST" during which the Wing may have to operate as a whole.
	9th		Fg. Off. WALLACE returned from leave and was immediately immersed in preparations for "HOLDFAST" - movements, etc. had all to be decided at short notice and organised accordingly. The weather was very poor all day and low cloud prevailed and the scheduled ground attack programme had to be cancelled after only a few sorties had been flown from the whole wing. No more flying was attempted all day. Lectures were organised for the aircrew while ground crews were clear to go ahead as much as possible with preparations for the move.
	10th		It was a beautiful day and training was concentrated on ground attack missions. Low level map reading was in for some revision on three sorties, and in general the mornings flying proved very useful and interesting. It brushed up Ground Attack techniques and was excellent preparation for Exercise "HOLDFAST". The pilots' crew room was also being graced with a new and comprehensive wall map constructed by the pilots in their non-flying hours. Another wing snake was held in the afternoon, which further standardised procedures.
	11th		The Squadron did 'Battle Flight' for No. 4 Squadron who were rocketing. They were scrambled up to 40,000 ft. and trailed a supposed F.84 - but found nothing. On a later trip they were sent to 35,000 feet but here again the interception had to be abandoned and calibration of the Ground Height finding equipment had to be undertaken. The last trip of the day was again a high altitude scramble to 36,000 ft. during which one aircraft was sighted but proved too fast to attack. Sgt. GARRATT took his test and now holds a Green ticket. No more flying was attempted and vehicles were prepared for the move as soon as they arrived from the M.T. section.
	12th		The first convoy moved off at 07.30 hours for BUCKEBURG. Pilots prepared maps checked frequencies and callsigns - equipped all the aircraft with frequency charts, and prepared and checked camping equipment. Black bands of distemper were prepared on all aircraft, and although it was perfect weather, not many sorties were flown because of a bowser shortage brought about by the move. Some Ground Attack sorties were flown. Aircraft were sent to find and straff the convoy but were not successful - so far ahead of schedule was it. Sgt. THOMAS returned from U.K. leave in time for 'HOLDFAST'.	Appendix 'A' 93 Sqn Ops Order No 9/52
	13th		The second convoy was prepared for an early start the next morning - kit was packed and remaining aircraft got the black bands painted on them. One more aircraft had to go to FASSBERG in exchange for a freshly camouflaged one. The weather was very fine, but at the briefing it was stated that fog was possible on the morrow. This briefing was held in Flying Wing H.Q. and it was stated that we would be with 'GREENLAND' forces operating against 'BLUELAND'. We would be fighting for the East and aircraft would be committed to not only Ground Attack but interception as well. Five-to-one air superiority in 'GREENLAND's' favour could be assumed. Fg. Off. BATES returned from leave in Germany.
JEVER and BUCKEBURG	14th		Aircraft took off as scheduled at 08.15 after a seven o'clock briefing. A ten minute interval between Squadrons gave ample clearance - and although mist and then low stratus still prevailed at BUCKEBURG - everyone landed safely. It was discovered that the Advanced Party had twice had their camp site moved, consequently aircrew helped with erection of marquees on final site. No R.A.F. Regt. personnel were available as labour, because they had all been hastily dispersed on gun-sites, and there they remained. Consequent on the two moves was disorder in the kitchen and a meal of bread and cheese and tea had to suffice until evening when the good quality of the cooking (which prevailed throughout the exercise) was evident for the first time. During the afternoon Sector Recces were flown and camouflage on the tented site was started. 93 Squadron aircraft were dispersed on the South West end of the airfield. A Battle of Britain memorial Parade was held at 17.30 hours on the Parade Ground. The Group Captain said a few words to everyone about the exercise before they marched off. The convoy arrived at 17.00 and bedding was collected. The aircraft were picketed and left with a guard for the night.
	15th		Another parade was held at 08.30 hours, after which a briefing was held to give the pilots the general situation. The Wing Commander gave flying control procedures and an outline of the ops setup. Pairs were flown to reconnoitre the 'Battle Area'. Main areas were Paderborn, Soest and Sennelager. The Battle was to be fought from Hamlin through the hills and into the plain south of the Minden Hills. Weather was very good. After a cold clear night the resultant mist soon cleared. The Squadron lived in a small copse north of the airfield which made a pleasant camping site well sheltered from wind, and dry. The N.A.A.F.I. was a regular visitor to both dispersal and camp site, bringing beer in the evening. The circuit at BUCKEBURG was liable to become crowded at times with Comm. Flight and civil aircraft, but not frequently. BUCKEBURG for the purpose of the exercise was in neutral territory so all attacks had to be routed to come into the Battle Area from the East, and fuel watched carefully on the first few sorties.
	16th		Eight aircraft went to readiness at 08.00, but a thick morning mist prevented any flying. At 09.00 hours the sky was almost cloudless and the day warm and sunny. 4 Squadron sent some aircraft off but 93 had no call made on them all morning. The dispersal and pilots crew tent were tidied up and made more comfortable - an ops. board and maps etc. were prepared. At lunch time a ground attack alarm was sounded as a practice, and defence positions were manned. The all clear was soon given. Not till 15.30 did anything happen. The Squadron sent 6 aircraft out of 8 asked for (one was u/s and this meant a pair stayed behind) to attack a radar installation at Wyndergwick in Holland. The route took them via Dummer Lake. The attack was successful and valuable information was brought back. Besides operational flying an air test, two aerobatic sorties and two cine sorties were flown. It was decided as a result of confusion, not to fly training sorties and not to take off downwind unless absolutely necessary. At 18.15 came the stand-down.
	17th		The airmen were up at 04.00 hours, and 6 aircraft ready at 06.00 hours. Four more later came on at 07.00 and stood by for airfield defence. At about 09.00 the original six became three pairs for ground attack. but no targets came up. A wind during the night prevented mist forming at BUCKEBURG but weather in other places was not as good. A projected strike on WAHN was called off for lack of diversion airfields. The day developed warm and clear. The First activity came with the demand for a pair and a four on two targets - an H.Q. and a tank concentration. Only two of the four took off and found the target. The pair missed their target. Another pair reconnoitred the road south west of HORN and found a 'flak' position. At 17.30 the weather was clouding over and a section of two carried out a weather recce. This ended flying for the day. Re-arming times averaged ten minutes for two or four aircraft. R/T was the main item of unserviceability and this was because of the weakness of the 10 channel sets to trouble. At 18.00 hours the Squadron was stood down.
	18th		At 05.00 hours 10 aircraft were on readiness. The weather was cloudy with diminishing rain. At 06.00 a weather recce in the Battle Area found it still unfit for ground attack missions. TWENTHE airfield was given as an alternative target and 8 aircraft went off. They flew into mist and found the airfield unexpectedly, making a second attack necessary. Some aircraft parked in a straight line, were claimed damaged, and once again information was brought back for further attacks. Not till lunch-time was the next sortie flown, and this was an armed recce which came back with a report of poor visibility in the Battle Area, and a cloud base of 200 -500 ft. A secondary trough was reported coming through giving showers. Four more aircraft went on an armed recce for tanks south of Paderborn but they had gone. On returning to the circuit this four found Dutch Meteors above the airfield and claimed one destroyed. It is suspected they lost two of their number. At 16.30 an armed recce of the roads east of Lippstadt was carried out. There was nothing to the east but plenty of movement west along all roads. By now the bomb-line had moved past the Eggegebirger range and the situation was quite clear. A re-arming time of 9 minutes was achieved on 4 aircraft. Close down came at 19.00 hours.
	19th		Only one section came on early, but they did nothing because of the low cloud which only cleared slowly. Not till 12.59 did any aircraft from 93 become airborne. They were a six, which made a simulated bombing attack on WAHN. This was carried out above cloud. Meanwhile the battle had been winding up and two pairs on armed recce found considerable activity south west of Paderborn. Thunderstorms in the area then made ground attack impossible. In the afternoon a Station Defence exercise was laid on. Rain made it uncomfortable and 93 Squadron were left alone. The day was cold generally, but the bad weather cleared in the evening giving promise of an unstable but finer morrow. One more aircraft was sent to FASSBERG on respray while one was collected in its new paint.
	20th		05.00 hours saw eight aircraft on readiness. This number was soon brought to ten, and by 06.00 hours two pairs were away on armed recce of the southern battle area. Low cloud made any detection impossible but a picture of the weather was formed. Later four went off and made a strike south of Goghn. Air defence claimed many more sorties this day, and several strikes on retreating tanks were made. It was a day of great activity much confusion in the battles and culminated in an attack by 12 aircraft, led by the Wing Commander, to soften up an area near Varl for live parachute dropping. The weather over the area was hazy all day from Ruhr smoke and showers. The battle had moved fast and bomb-lines were only notes as every other one came in. GREENLAND were almost in Soest and Varl so that their main objectives were almost attained, the retreating troops were not getting much time to consolidate either. There was no Air Defence role for the Squadron all day, but the airfield was attacked several times. The warning system is still no good.
	21st		The day began early with attacks on 'flak' positions at Soest. 12 tanks were also found and later sought by another section but not found. Four stood by on Airfield Defence but, when scrambled, found nothing amidst the increasing cloud. A warm front was coming up and the weather steadily deteriorated. Four aircraft were recalled soon after their take-off on a napalm air-ground attack. Cloud stretched up to 25-30,000 feet. By evening wind was reaching gale-force. Aircraft were picketed and the wind sock had blown down. Tents were pegged down and personnel retired for the night.
	22nd		The morning dawned calmer and with layer cloud. A counter attack had begun in the extreme south, and a slight pincer movement was indicated north of Bockum. The northern area was flooded with aircraft below the cloud near the Mohne Dam. The battle was very confused and fleeing sections? and enemy aircraft were found in the area frequently. One Meteor 10 in the circuit was claimed by a returning pair and many other air victories were claimed. A very poor attack was made on the airfield by U.S.A.F. F.84's, during which they all got shot down either by fire or Vampires which happened to be in the circuit. In the afternoon the Wing Commander did a Wing fly past round the area. He flew at the point of the vic comprising himself and the Group Captain with one of No. 4 Squadron, then the three squadrons each flew three vics of three, in sections vic behind him. Four ninety-three, and one-one-two, in that order. This signally finished the exercise, and troops could be seen flocking back along all the roads to their bases.
BUCKEBURG and JEVER	23rd		A late morning for those not on the advance convoy, which left at 09.00 hours. Tents were struck in drizzle and low cloud prevailed. A strongish wind prevented the cloud from becoming depressingly low. By 12.00 the Squadron was ready to move. Their take off had been scheduled for 13.30. After several hours of indecision about the conditions, it was decided that we should go and the Squadron took-off at 16.13. The weather, though bumpy, was very good all the way and the other squadrons followed at ten minute intervals. The local receiver was poor at JEVER and squadrons used the approach channel. The convoy was here and the aircraft were pushed away. They were not refueled owing to a shortage of bowsers.
JEVER	24th		Four aircraft were flown all morning. Black lines were removed from the wings. Practice aerobatics, Q.G.H.'s and cine were flown. Exercises authorised two or more to a sortie as a means of making flying more varied. Fg.Off. WOOD came back on flying duties and had a familiarisation trip. The weather was not too good with a 600-700 ft. cloudbase. The homer was used for local and approach control. The ground staff commenced the off-loading of the second convoy. Plt. Off. G. SPEARMAN joined the squadron as a regular pilot. Since it was Wednesday the station closed at 12.00 hours for a sports afternoon.
	25th		Poor weather occasioned by a passing front made flying out of the question in the morning. Lectures and tests on a/c recognition were given by Sgt. THOMAS. The convoy was still off-loading. Another new pilot, Plt Off. D. W. STANDISH, arrived on the Squadron. After lunch the weather cleared and flying was started. Formation aerobatics, opp. qtrs, and Q.G.H.'s in formation were all practiced. The Meteor was used to give the new pilots dual checks. By the end of the day the weather was very good and showed promise of a fine morning to follow.
	26th		More low cloud, which soon lifted and broke up. A very strong cross-wind made it advisable not to fly and lectures on aircraft and tank recognition were given by Sgt. THOMAS again. Sgt. GARRATT went to BUCKEBURG and returned the same morning. The films from exercise 'HOLDFAST' were shown but were disappointing, being badly processed and not all there. There was plenty to do, the new pilots collected equipment, the 'wall map' in the crew room progressed and the approaching end of month summaries had to be started on. At lunch time the station long week-end started.
	27th		Saturday.
			Sunday.
	29th		Battle Flight of four aircraft did two trips after lunch. Thick low cloud and rain made P.I.'s impossible in the morning. Even on the two sorties flown - radio snags cropped up and cloud made P.I.'s difficult. Also one pilot had to return with sinus trouble. The rest of the squadron aircraft flew low level cross countries, and practiced large scale map reading. Plt. Off. SPEARMAN did a sector recce and Plt. Off. STANDISH was given a dual check in the Meteor in readiness for his first Vampire solo.
	30th		Battle Flight flew one sortie in the morning. It was hazy and the trip was not interesting. Cloud at 20,000 ft. forced them down to 15,000 ft. in the clear where they did some G.C.I.s. After this they were stood down till 15.50 because of the weather. Immediately after lunch they flew a practice snake to 15,000 ft. where they were still in cloud and whence they descended again. Fg. Off. BATES, who was leading, then gave some formation practice and changes. At about 15.45 they were airborne again on P.I.'s but after a snake to over 30,000 ft. none of the attempts were very successful and the sortie was abandoned. The rest of the available aircraft were used on low-level cross-countries, to specified targets. Plt. Off. STANDISH did his first Vampire solo and sector recce, while Plt.Off. SPEARMAN did practice Q.G.H.'s and aerobatics. Fg. Off. WOOD went on a communications flight to GUTERSLOH and return.
			ADMINISTRATION The B.A.O.R. autumn exercise 'HOLDFAST' provided an opportunity for the Squadron to again practice its role under field conditions. R.A.F. BUCKEBURG was used as an exercise base. Domestic accommodation, messing, etc. was organised on a squadron basis and worked admirably. For this purpose the Squadron was affiliated to No. 30 (L.A.A.) Squadron, who did an extremely good catering job. The move by road to and from the exercise base was done by Squadrons and found to be the most efficient way of carrying it out.
			MOVEMENTS Fg.Off. R.L. JAMES - continues on P.A.I. Course. Fg.Off. J.C.M. WOOD- returned to unit effective strength after medical board on 19th September, 1952. Fg.Off. A.R. WALLACE - returned from leave on 8th September, 1952. Fg.Off. E.K.G. BATES - returned from leave on 12th September, 1952. Sgt. D.G. GARRATT - " " " " 9th " " Sgt. D.J. THOMAS - " " " " 12th " " Plt. .Off. M.C. COBURN ) Plt. .Off. G. FREEMAN ) - suspended from further training w.e.f. 25th. Plt. .Off. G.W. SPEARMAN ) Plt. .Off. D.W. STANDISH )- posted in w.e.f. 19th September, 1952.
			NOMINAL ROLL OF PILOTS Squadron Leader S.M. McGREGOR. 'A' Flight'B' Flight Flt.Lt. A.W. PATERSON.Flt.Lt. K.M. PEARCH. Fg.Off. A.V.H. STURMAN.Fg.Off. J.E.F. HARDCASTLE. Fg.Off. J.G.M. WOOD.Fg.Off. R.L. JAMES. Fg.Off. A.R. WALLACE.Fg.Off. E.K.G. BATES. Plt.Off. D.W. STANDISH.Fg.Off. G.W. SPEARMAN. Sgt. D. WEBSTER.Sgt, D.C. GARRETT. Sgt. C. WILLIAMS.Sgt. D.J. THOMAS.
			Total hours for month -318:40 Vampire10:45 Meteor. Sorties flown -425 "15 " Ammunition expended -Rockets - 126. Signed SM McGregor 3rd October, 1952. (S. M. McGregor.) Squadron Leader, Officer Commanding, No. 93 Squadron.